Ratchet haul devices

ABSTRACT

A ratchet haul device is provided for fastening two barges or like objects together which have upstanding stanchions, which device includes an elongated base member fastened to one barge, a guide rail extending lengthwise of said base, a plurality of stanchions on a line parallel to the guide rail, a crosshead movable on the guide rail having a locking hook, a ratchet means fixed at one end to the guide rail and at the other to the crosshead whereby the crosshead is movable on the guide rail, a cable having a loop at each end and a cable locking means receiving one such loop and the other loop being removably engaged in said hook means.

Unite States Patent Guthans Jan. H5, 1974 1 RATCHET HAUL DEVICES Prima Examiner-Gem e E. A. Halvosa 75 l t Har0ldA.Gth Mbl,Al. g l 1 men or u 0 a Assistant ExaminerEdward R. Kazenske [73] Assignee: Guthans Engineering Co., Mobile, A[t rney Eugene F Buell er a1.

Ala. v

[22] Filed: Oct. 27, 1971 [57] ABSTRACT [21] A 1 N 193,022 A ratchet haul device is provided for fastening two barges or like objects together which have upstanding stanchions, which device includes an elongated base [52] US. Cl 114/235 A, 254/67,2255:/l5;), member fastened to one barge, a guide rail extending I t Cl B63) 58 lengthwise of said base, a plurality of stanchions on a R 235/}: line parallel to the guide rail, a crosshead inovable on 3 135 the guide rail having a locking hook, a ratchet means 3 6 fixed at one end to the guide rail and at the other to the crosshead whereby the crosshead is movable on the guide rail, a cable having a loop at each end and a [56] References C'ted cable locking means receiving one such loop and the UMTED STATES PATENTS other loop being removably engaged in said hook 3,292,567 12/1966 Blackbarn 114/235 A means. 3,166,297 1/1965 Colmer, Jr. e 114/235 A 2,818,229 12/1957 Guthans 114/235 R 4 (313M515 Drawing Figures RATCHET HAUL DEVICES This invention relates to ratchet haul devices and particularly to'a ratchet and cable hauling device by means of which two barges or the like can be tightly fastened for towage or other purposes such as mooring, etc.

It is common practice in the water ways of the world to fasten two or more cables side by side or end by end with cables which pass around stanchions on the deck of the barge or vessel. It is quite difficult to fasten these cables tightly in order to hold together all assembled floating components into a single unit for movement by a towing vessel. Accordingly, various sorts of turnbuckle arrangements have been used. These are generally difficult to use, dangerous and the turnbuckles, which are loose, are easily lost overboard, stolen and damaged.

The present invention eliminates this problem and provides a cable and turnbuckle arrangement in which neither the turnbuckle nor the cable can be lost or stolen, yet provides a more easily used, safer and sure fastening means than anything heretofore available.

In a preferred embodiment of my invention I provide an elongated base member fastened to a vessel deck adjacent a stanchion, bitt, kevel or button (all of which will hereafter be called a stanchion) a guide rail lengthwise on said base member, a crosshead movable on said guide rail, ratchet means fixed at one end to one end of the guide rail and at the other end to said crosshead whereby said crosshead is moved on said guide rail, a locking hook means on said crosshead receiving a free cable end and a cable anchor means on said base member adjacent said guide rail anchoring the other end of a cable having said free cable end, said cable being adapted to pass around stanchions on to adjacent vessels for attaching the same together. Preferably, the

In the foregoing general description of this invention 1 have attempted to set out certain objects, purposes and advantages of the invention. Other objects, purposes and advantages will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the ratchet haul device of this invention as applied to a pair of barges to be fastened together; I

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation, partly broken away at the cable anchor end;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the tool used to remove the cable anchor; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section through the crosshead showing its fastening to the releasable cable locking hook means.

Referring to the drawings I have shown two barge ends and 11 each carrying stanchions 12 and 13 respectively. An elongated base member 14 is welded to the deck of one barge end 10 adjacentstanchion 12. The base member 14 is provided with a T-shaped guide rail 15 along one side and a plurality of spaced stanchions or buttons 16 parallel therewith on the other side. A crosshead 17 is movably mounted on the guide rail at one end. A turnbuckle 18 connects the crosshead 17 with a terminal end 19 on the opposite end of the guide rail. Rotation of the turnbuckle 18 moves the crosshead toward or away from terminal end 19 depending upon its direction of rotation. The crosshead 17 carries a hook 20 on link 21 which is in turn carried on attachment bolt 22 carrying lock ring 23. The hook 20 is designed to engage loop 24 on the free end of cable 25. A loop 26 on the opposite end of cable passes over one of stanchions 16 on the base member and around locking stanchion 16a. Locking stanchion 16a is made up of an annular sheave-like member 27 welded to base member 14 and having a hollow axial cavity 28 receiving a threaded nut 28a. A locking plate 29 having stud ends 30 passing through openings 32 in the guide rail is held over the member 27 by a locking bolt 34 within well 35 formed by annular wall 36. The pilate 29 has an upstanding stop 37 which prevents removal of crosshead 17 from track or rail 15. The locking bolt 34 can be removed only by using the special tool shown in FIG. 4. This tool is made up ofa cylindrical inner member 38, two intermediate semi-cylindrical wrench portions 39 and 39b having radial lugs 40 which engage holes 41 in the inner member 38 and radial lugs 42 which engage holes 42a in the lock bolt 34 and finally an outer cylindrical shell 43 surrounds the two semi- 'cylindrical wrench portions and has holes 44 which align with like holes 45 in the intermediate wrench portions 39 and holes 46, the inner member 38, all adapted to receive a pin 47 for rotating the tool and bolt 34.

The device is used by welding the base member to a deck of a barge and placing cable 25 around stanchions 12 and 13 with loop 26 at the most remote of stanchions 16. The turnbuckle18 is then rotated to move the crosshead 17 toward terminal end 19 carrying the free end .loop 24 so as to tighten it and bring the barges into close proximity as shown in FIG. 1.

In the foregoing specification I have illustrated and I described a presently preferred embodiment of my invention; however, it will be understood that this invention may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim: l. A ratchet haul device for fastening two adjacent objects having upstanding stanchions comprising an elongated base member fastened to one of said objects, a guide rail extending lengthwise of said base member, a crosshead movable on said guide rail, ratchet means fixed at one end to one end of said guide rail and at the other end to said crosshead remote from said one end of said guide rail whereby said crosshead is movable on said guide rail, a locking hook means on said crosshead, a cable having a loop at each end, and a cable anchor locking means adjacent said guide rail receiving a loop at one end of said cable and holding said loop at one end-against removal, said cable anchor means including a plurality of spaced open anchor members receiving said loop for changing the effective length of the cable, said other loop being removably received in said hook means after passing around the stanchions on said objects, said ratchet means being a turnbuckle.

2. A ratchet haul device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the locking hook means includes a hook which receives the cable loop and a lock ring which engages the hook over the cable loop.

3. A ratchet haul device for fastening two adjacent objects having upstanding stanchions comprising an elongated base member fastened to one of said objects, a guide rail extending lengthwise of said base member, a crosshead movable on said guide rail, ratchet means fixed at one end to one end of said guide rail and at the other end to said crosshead remote from said one end of said guide rail whereby said crosshead is movable on said guide rail, a locking hook means on said crosshead, a cable having a loop at each end, and a cable anchor locking means adjacent said guide rail receiving a loop at one end of said cable, said other loop being removably received in said hook means after passing around the stanchions on said objects, said cable anchor locking means having a plurality of upstanding spaced apart stanchions, one of which carries a removable head portion extending into the base over the cable end preventing removal of the cable end, the remaining stanchions being open at the top to shorten the effective cable length.

4. A ratchet haul means for fastening two adjacent objects having upstanding stanchions comprising an elongated base member fastened to one of said objects, a guide rail extending lengthwise of said base member, a crosshead movable on said guide rail, ratchet means fixed at one end to one end of said guide rail and at the other end to said crosshead remote from said one end of said guide rail whereby said crosshead is movable on said guide rail, a locking hook means on said crosshead, a cable having a loop at each end, and a cable anchor locking means receiving a loop at one end of said cable, said other loop being removably received in said hook means after passing around the stanchions on said objects, said cable anchor locking means being a plurality of upstanding stanchions, one of which carries a removable head portion extending into the base over the cable end preventing removal of the cable end, the removable head portion being a flat plate having studs extending into the guide rail and a bolt within a cylindrical shield member preventing its removal with ordinary tools. 

1. A ratchet haul device for fastening two adjacent objects having upstanding stanchions comprising an elongated base member fastened to one of said objects, a guide rail extending lengthwise of said base member, a crosshead movable on said guide rail, ratchet means fixed at one end to one end of said guide rail and at the other end to said crosshead remote from said one end of said guide rail whereby said crosshead is movable on said guide rail, a locking hook means on said crosshead, a cable having a loop at each end, and a cable anchor locking means adjacent said guide rail receiving a loop at one end of said cable and holding said loop at one end against removal, said cable anchor means including a plurality of spaced open anchor members receiving said loop for changing the effective length of the cable, said other loop being removably received in said hook means after passing around the stanchions on said objects, said ratchet means being a turnbuckle.
 2. A ratchet haul device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the locking hook means includes a hook which receives the cable loop and a lock ring which engages the hook over the cable loop.
 3. A ratchet haul device for fastening two adjacent objects having upstanding stanchions comprising an elongated base member fastened to one of said objects, a guide rail extending lengthwise of said base member, A crosshead movable on said guide rail, ratchet means fixed at one end to one end of said guide rail and at the other end to said crosshead remote from said one end of said guide rail whereby said crosshead is movable on said guide rail, a locking hook means on said crosshead, a cable having a loop at each end, and a cable anchor locking means adjacent said guide rail receiving a loop at one end of said cable, said other loop being removably received in said hook means after passing around the stanchions on said objects, said cable anchor locking means having a plurality of upstanding spaced apart stanchions, one of which carries a removable head portion extending into the base over the cable end preventing removal of the cable end, the remaining stanchions being open at the top to shorten the effective cable length.
 4. A ratchet haul means for fastening two adjacent objects having upstanding stanchions comprising an elongated base member fastened to one of said objects, a guide rail extending lengthwise of said base member, a crosshead movable on said guide rail, ratchet means fixed at one end to one end of said guide rail and at the other end to said crosshead remote from said one end of said guide rail whereby said crosshead is movable on said guide rail, a locking hook means on said crosshead, a cable having a loop at each end, and a cable anchor locking means receiving a loop at one end of said cable, said other loop being removably received in said hook means after passing around the stanchions on said objects, said cable anchor locking means being a plurality of upstanding stanchions, one of which carries a removable head portion extending into the base over the cable end preventing removal of the cable end, the removable head portion being a flat plate having studs extending into the guide rail and a bolt within a cylindrical shield member preventing its removal with ordinary tools. 